The Ultimate Lenten Sacrifice

An Ultimate Lenten Sacrifice

Eileen Renders

As children, we thought like children, and when Lent came, we asked one another, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Some of us may have answered saying candy, ice cream, or soda. Now, as adults, we usually do not ask one another about our Lenten sacrifices. Hopefully, however. We have contemplated our sacrifice and reflected on God’s complete sacrifice for us, His crucifixion and death on the Cross.

In my personal reflection, I pray that we all desire to give to God all that we can, not for 40 days, but for the extent of our lives. I believe that God shows us all we need to know through His words and by His example when He walked on Earth. God does not demand; He has given us all free will to choose our choices and our path. When it comes from our heart with true sincerity, God, I believe, desires our body, mind, and soul's full submission to His will for us. For this is when God will truly protect us from Satan, guide us, and lead us home to Him.

Without true sincerity and deep love for Christ, we cannot deliver. Therefore, perhaps if we spend more time reflecting on His sacrifice through the Stations of the Cross, confession, Mass, and prayer, we will be able to truly go to Him and say,” Take me, Lord, you created me, and I am yours.”

God does not ever require us to sacrifice our health through starving or hurting ourselves. He longs for us to go to Him and love Him above all. This includes, but is not limited to, our parents, our spouse, or our children. In today’s world, some are tempted to reconcile with our children who disobey and disrespect God to fulfill their hearts’ desires. We go to them, and accept and love them, which is acceptable. However, we cannot disregard what is right, what God asks of us, or not show god loyalty by verbalizing our beliefs and living by His Commandments in loyalty to Him, and as an example to our children, including adult children.